Daily entries from the 17th century London diary
If you would like to write a summary for this topic, email phil [at] gyford [dot] com
The duty of the Master of the Wardrobe was to provide “proper furniture for coronations, marriages, and funerals” of the sovereign and royal family, “cloaths of state, beds, hangings, and other necessaries for the houses of foreign ambassadors, cloaths of state for Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Prince of Wales, and ambassadors abroad,” as also to provide robes for Ministers of State, Knights of the Garter, &c. The last Master of the Wardrobe was Ralph, Duke of Montague, who died 1709.
The location can also be seen on this map: http://www.londonancestor.com/maps/baynards-thumb.htm
Can be seen slightly more clearly on this 1746 map:
http://www.motco.com/MapImages/81002/81002113.jpg
In fact two are shown: St Andrews Wardrobe and Wardrobe C. The former is off Puddle Dock hill, so relates more closely to Pepys saying that he went “to Puddlewharf, to the Wardrobe”
PERSONNEL AT THE WARDROBE
MASTER OF THE WARDROBE (1660-1671):
Sir Edward Mountagu
(Pepys’s “My Lord”)
http://www.pepysdiary.com/p/112.php
(In 1671, Mountagu will sell the office to his cousin, Ralph Mountagu.)
CO-CLERKS:
William Rumbold
http://www.pepysdiary.com/p/1523.php
Thomas Townshend
http://www.pepysdiary.com/p/947.php
OTHERS:
There were about 25 tailors, cutters, lacemen, etc., and “a number of hands.”
— L&M Companion volume, “The Wardrobe” entry
There is still a plaque at the location of the Wardrobe in Wardrobe Place, which is just off Carter Lane, south of the cathedral. (Perhaps someone could take a photo of it for the Photo Album at: http://www.smartgroups.com/pictures/openalbum.cfm?GID=1855698&AlbumID=2993209
King’s Wardrobe Plaque:
There is now a picture if the plaque in the photo album.
http://www.smartgroups.com/pictures/openpicture.cfm?GID=1855698&AlbumID=2993209&PictureID=27013594&Layout=D&Sort=ordernum&Dir=ASC
” Ward robe ” lifted from the OED:
from Ward ” ward to watchout for or guard ” mangled French and German: wearde,warde, garde [the loo]
like in guaudianship of parentless children
2. The office or department of a royal or noble household charged with the care of the wearing apparel. Also, the building in which the officers of this department conduct their business.
More than just wearing items, there be other items of use and value required for the odd occasion when there be visitors of note.
It also be the place where the Royal household gets its remuneration.
a1700 EVELYN Diary 25 Jan. 1645, In the wardrobe above they shew’d us fine wrought plate, porcelan, [etc.].
